Young Jets stars eager for first taste of playoff hockey

They’ve all played post-season games at some level and most have represented their countries on the world stage, experiences they believe will put them in a good position to succeed when they get their first taste of Stanley Cup playoff hockey this week.

The Winnipeg Jets have a lot of kids on their team who have played huge roles this season but will experience the intense thrill ride that is the NHL playoffs for the first time on Wednesday when the Minnesota Wild visit Bell MTS Place for Game 1 of a best-of-seven first-round series.

There will be 15,000 fans forming a whiteout in the stands, raising the decibels to deafening tones, the opposition will be elevating its speed and physicality and every little play in the game will be magnified.

“What you have to do is jump in with both feet right away,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said Monday after the Jets practised at Bell MTS Place.

“I’m sure there will be some butterflies coming out in front of the whiteout on Wednesday and that’s where you have to manage your emotions and get into the game right away as the intensity picks up.”

The Jets have a nice balance of veteran players and young stars, though they are not long on overall playoff experience.

Among those who will play their first playoff games on Wednesday are Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers, who combined for 103 goals this season, Morrissey, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and grinding forwards Joel Armia, Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev.

“It’s not going to change our game just because it’s playoffs,” said Laine, who led the team with 44 goals at age 19.

“We’ve got to maybe be a little bit more careful with the puck, try to be hard on it and get pucks out and pucks deep. It’s going to get faster and harder.

“I don’t think I’m nervous at all. I’m never nervous when it’s about hockey. Just trying to be relaxed, as always, and have fun.”

This is a new level, but it’s not like these players haven’t experienced playoff intensity.

Morrissey played in a Memorial Cup and a world junior championship and a Calder Cup final. Laine won the Liiga championship in Finalnd with Tappara and a world junior gold medal.

Ehlers didn’t go as deep in any post-season in his pre-NHL career but believes he’s played enough hockey to know how big the change is from the regular season.

“The last 10-15 games have taken a step toward playoff hockey,” the 22-year-old Dane said. “I think all the young guys in here have gotten a little bit of experience, knowing what we need to do more and what we need to do better and what we can’t do.

“It’s not going to be easy for any player in the playoffs. It is different hockey, but good players go out and find a way to make a play, even if the things you’re used to doing aren’t working.”

The Jets have some older players who have been through the playoff grind before and can offer up plenty of advice. Yet, captain Blake Wheeler’s pre-series advice was more about treating it like any other game.

“There’s five guys on each side, two goalies, one puck,” Wheeler said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just go out there and enjoy the experience.”

All of the young players have seen their fair share of playoff hockey but don’t really know what it will be like until they live it themselves.

“It’s the best kind of hockey,” said Connor, who scored 31 goals as a rookie this season. “You grow up watching it and you want to be a part of it.

“We’ll do a little bit more video on (the Wild) but once you’re playing, it’s just what you’ve been doing all year. We’ve practising for it and prepping and we’ll play the same way, just with a little more incentive.”

Laine believes the high-intensity, playoff-type game is going to fit him pretty well.

“I’ve won championships before and I’ve played in playoffs,” he said. “It’s not something new to me and I know what it requires to play in those types of games. When there’s a lot of pressure and a lot on the line, I like those kinds of games.”

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